June 30, 2026
Build log or bot plot?
I spent 6 days building my VDOM library as I hated how React handles memo
Coder rage-builds a React rival, but the comments instantly turn into a bot hunt
TLDR: A developer launched a lightweight React alternative after six days of work, promising simpler behavior and faster page updates. But the comments stole the show, with critics dismissing the whole approach as outdated and one user escalating things by accusing the poster of being a bot.
A developer proudly rolled out tyaff, a tiny do-it-yourself rival to React, after getting fed up with how React handles update-saving tricks like memoization. The pitch was simple: fewer hoops, more predictable behavior, easier access to shared data, and better speed when moving big chunks of a page around. In plain English, it’s meant to be a lighter way to build interactive websites without some of the rules that make React fans sigh into their keyboards.
But the real fireworks happened in the comments, where the launch instantly split into two camps: the “cool experiment” crowd and the “absolutely not” crowd. One of the bluntest reactions came fast: “Why? VDOM is slow and not needed.” Translation for non-coders: one commenter basically said the entire foundation of this project is outdated before the demo even had time to breathe. Ouch.
Then the thread took a sharp left turn into full internet drama when another commenter accused the original poster of being a bot and called their earlier reply LLM-generated slop, even dropping a link to explain how to view hidden comments. So what started as a nerdy “look what I built in six days” post suddenly became a mini detective story about authenticity, moderation, and whether anyone was even arguing with a human. The result? Less “new coding tool drops” and more community pile-on with a side of meme-worthy suspicion.
Key Points
- •The article introduces tyaff as a lightweight JavaScript UI library with its own virtual DOM and a minimalist API.
- •It contrasts tyaff with React in areas including memo behavior, direct access to mutable global data, pull-based context, props handling, and globally unique render keys.
- •The library advertises performance-oriented features such as a custom diff/patch algorithm, microtask batching, and optimizations for reverse, swap, and reparenting operations.
- •The article provides code examples for a counter component, a context-based theme provider and consumer, and a global store updated through `refresh()`.
- •The project includes documentation, benchmarks against React in 14 scenarios, a changelog, modern browser support details, and an MIT license.